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Betemit may not be available because of fever (two updates)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles played with a short bench yesterday, and they could be doing the same thing today.

Steve Pearce didn't arrive at Tropicana Field yesterday until after the game, leaving manager Buck Showalter with three reserves. Today, Wilson Betemit is running a fever that is keeping him out of the lineup.

The Orioles will find out later whether Betemit is available to pinch-hit.

Pearce said he was "shocked" to find out yesterday that he was joining the Orioles. Pearce, who was playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, had opted out of his contract with the Yankees.

"I had a little bit of a miscommunication with my manager," he said. "When he said I was going up, I thought I was going up with the Yankees, with my affiliated team. But I was going up with Baltimore and I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to be in the big leagues."

Pearce wasn't aware of the Orioles' health and roster issues.

"I found out yesterday," he said. "I haven't really been following them. I've just been trying to keep up with what I'm doing down there. I'm just learning the past 24 hours what's been going on."

Pearce is a career .232 hitter in parts of five major league seasons with the Pirates, but he was hitting .321 with 11 homers and 30 RBIs in Triple-A this year. He also cut down on his strikeouts.

"Just regular playing time, getting comfortable," he said. "I've been comfortable all year. Since the season started, there's been a comfort zone and I've stayed in it all year."

Pearce is starting in right field today, a position he's played in 53 major league games and 88 minor league games. Most of his starts have come at first base.

"I'm probably more comfortable at first only because I've probably been playing it most of the time down there in Triple-A, but I've played a lot of outfield the last couple years, so it should be a smooth transition," he said.